FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: SHELLEY SPESSARD ED.D.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

(949) 497-7700 EXT. 5232

May 31, 2022 

Laguna Beach Unified School District Awarded Grants for VAPA Programs

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. ­- The FOA Foundation recently awarded Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School with grants totaling $10,000 toward ceramics, art, and theatre.

In 1989, the Festival of Arts, with a $1.5 million donation, established the FOA Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, in order to guarantee annual financial support, preserve, and promote the fine arts and all other artistic endeavors in Laguna Beach.

The FOA Foundation, co-founded by John Rayment and David Young, was designed to hold these funds in a permanent endowment. The earnings and income from this endowment would be distributed annually as grants to nonprofit art organizations and educational institutions in and about the city of Laguna Beach.

“The FOA Foundation is proud to support all the great work our schools do to support the talented students of Laguna Beach,”  shared Kathy Jones, FOA Foundation President.

Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School teachers continue to appreciate the opportunity to apply and receive grants to enhance the programs and opportunities available for students to strengthen their learning and develop their skills in visual and performing arts. Teachers have been able to provide students with real-world experiences and opportunities as a result of the grants.

“We deeply appreciate the continued support from the Festival of Arts Foundation, which helps us provide authentic and enriching experiences for the TMS Theatre students,” said Alexis Karol, Thurston Middle School Theatre teacher.

“I am always grateful and appreciative of the Festival of Arts Foundation, for their generous grant that positively impacts the lives of the students in the ceramics classes. “The grant directly impacts students’ enjoyment of learning on a daily basis!” added Somer Selway, LBHS Ceramics and AP 3D Art and Design teacher.

“The FOA Foundation is one of many great partnerships within our amazing community,” shared Jason Allemann Ed.D., LBHS Principal.  “It is great to see the many value-added learning experiences these grants provide our students."

Laguna Beach Unified School District takes ownership of each child's learning in our schools, accepting no limits on potential. Our VAPA programs are one of the many concrete examples of how we work tirelessly to ensure each student gains the knowledge, experience, world perspectives, and skills needed to become a lifelong learner and producer in a competitive and interconnected world. We are deeply thankful for the support we have received from the FOA Foundation.

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